October 17, 2021 - Colossians 1:9-23
October 17, 2021
Introduction to Colossians
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Author: Paul
Date of writing: 60-62 AD.
Purpose: To warn the Colossians against the heresy they faced.
2. This was written to the church in Colossae, a city in Phrygia, a Roman province. Currently this is in modern Turkey.
3. Colossians along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon were all written while Paul was in prison at Rome and are referred to as the prison epistles.
4. Paul had never visited the church at Colossae. (See Paul’s journeys map. Also see #7 below to gauge the approximate location of Colossae.)
5. Epaphras probably became a believer during Paul’s 3-year ministry in Ephesus. Acts 19:1,10
6. Epaphras probably started the church in Colosse. Col. 1:7-8
7. Colossae is approximately 100 miles east of Ephesus.
8. Epaphras went to see Paul while Paul was in prison in Rome. Col. 4:12
9. This letter was to also be shared with the church in Laodicea. Col. 4:16
10. Tychicus delivered the letter to Colossae. Col. 4:7-8
11. Onesimus was sent back to Colosse with Tychicus (Col 4:9). The book of Philemon gives us the explanation of what had taken place.
12. Key verses: 1:15-20, 2:6-7, 2:13-14, 3:1-2, 3:15
October 17, 2021
Lessons Learned
Colossians 1:9-23
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. The Christian life can not be lived by depending on human intellect and human strength, you must be ‘filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.’ Col. 1:9
2. We are to worship the creator, not anything that was created.
3. ‘First born’ in verse 15 refers to the superior rank of Christ.
4. Verses 15-20 gives us a picture of Christ:
In relationship to God the Father.
In relationship to the created universe.
In relationship to the church.
5. According to verse 18, Christ is to be preeminent in everything. Does Christ have preeminence in your life?
6. “Reconcile means to restore to a right relationship or standard, or to make peace where formerly there was enmity.” William MacDonald
7. You are reconciled with God at the moment you first believed and were saved from the penalty of sin.
8. Reconciliation with God is possible because Jesus was put to death for our sake.
9. Being reconciled to God means Jesus now presents you to God as holy, blameless, and above reproach.
10. Rather than wallowing in sin, believers are to live lives that display a transformed life.
11. Application:
Believers ‘walk worthy of the Lord’ when they come to grips with, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a (ESV)
Jesus is the only one who deserves our worship.
